SPRING NOTES: #FreeBelt 2.0; Lincecum gets the jitters out

In this corner of the Internet, we’re going to count Friday’s intrasquad game stats, at least until a few more games are in the books. And so, after two games, Brandon Belt is 5 for 6 with three RBIs and a home run.

But everyone will be watching more than just numbers with Belt. He put up decent numbers last spring, too, hitting .282 with three homers. (That was good enough to make the opening day squad, although you all know what happened after that.) The real thing to watch with Belt right now is his approach, and the one he took on Saturday is the one that manager Bruce Bochy has been waiting to see.

Belt is aggressive right now, maybe overly aggressive. He swings first and asks questions later. Or in this case, answers questions. How’s the new approach working out for you, Brandon?
“I’d rather be overaggressive and have to back off than be too passive,” Belt said. “Even today, I was a little bit too aggressive. That last at-bat, I swung at a ball – it happens.”

Bochy is happy with what he’s seen so far, saying Belt “has come in here ready to go.” At the moment, it’s Belt 1, Huff 0, Pill 0 – in large part because Huff was robbed of extra bases by Chris Young early in today’s game. They’ll all be back out there tomorrow, and with the Giants playing a pair of split-squad games the three are sure to get quite a few at-bats on Sunday.

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And we’ll continue to keep score…

After two weeks of peace and quiet at Scottsdale Stadium, it was very, very nice to finally get a sellout crowd and some real baseball. Here’s what we saw today:

— Tim Lincecum was a little too amped up at the start of the game, but he settled down in the second inning, getting a strikeout, groundout and fly ball after giving up a leadoff single. Lincecum was happy with his first start of the spring, which is dissected in the game story (to be posted online shortly).

He threw only fastballs and changeups and said he was happy with the way the ball was coming out. Bochy was happy with what he saw when Lincecum came back out for a second inning:

“I’m glad we did it. It was a better inning and he was finishing his pitches better. He felt better and got better as he went. I think he’ll tell you that in the second inning he slowed down a bit.”

(Lincecum did tell us that.)

— The pitching staff as a whole didn’t fare so well. Five of the first six pitchers allowed a run, including four who are locks to make the big league squad.

“You could tell that it’s been a while since they’ve been out there,” Bochy said. “To be honest with you, we expected it. They’re not going to locate well right now.”

— I wouldn’t expect any problems from Madison Bumgarner tomorrow, but Bochy won’t be there to see his young left-hander face the Brewers. He’s going with the other half of the squad instead, and will watch Brian Burres take the mound against the Diamondbacks.

— Angel Pagan overran a ball in the first inning, allowing two runners to take an extra base. But it didn’t bother Bochy at all. He viewed Pagan’s play, along with Melky Cabrera’s strike to home to nail Justin Upton, as positive signs.

“I don’t care if they make a mistake,” Bochy said. “(Try to) keep (the opponent) from taking an extra base.”

The Giants want Cabrera, Pagan and Schierholtz to be aggressive in the outfield. If they are, it could be the club’s best defensive outfield in years.

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— For the first time this spring, Freddy Sanchez (shoulder surgery) participated in drills on the Scottsdale Stadium field with the rest of the team. Sanchez took grounders and made throws to second base and first, but wasn’t throwing at full strength.

As he walked off the field, Sanchez told trainers: “It was good. I feel good.”

— Ryan Vogelsong (back strain) threw from 105 feet before Saturday’s game and will increase the distance to 120 feet on Sunday. “Back feels great, arm feels great,” he said.

Vogelsong said he could throw off a mound as early as Tuesday.

— Buster Posey will not play in either of the intrasquad games on Sunday.

— Lincecum struck out two in two innings. The other seven Giants pitchers struck out just one batter.

— Nothing like a spring box score: 25 different Giants took the field today.

— Brandon Crawford had a two-run single, and I’ll continue to say what I’ve been saying all spring: Dude is swinging the bat very well right now.

— The notebook (posted online shortly) leads with Dan Runzler, who will go see Dr. James Andrews this weekend to get a second opinion on his injured lat muscle. It sounds like Runzler is out at least three to four weeks.

— Cody Ross hit a solo homer and grand slam in Boston’s victory over … Northeastern. Although I think all stats in that game have to be taken with a gigantic grain of salt. The Red Sox won 25-0. Of course I’m counting intrasquad stats on this blog, so I’m probably not one to talk.

— The San Jose Giants are looking for host families. I don’t know what that process is like or how much of your food some of these guys are going to eat, but if you’re interested, you can fill out the online form at sjgiants.com.

Alex Pavlovic

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Good to see the Brandons start out hitting. Not too worried about the pitchers at this point. Nice to have live baseball again.

Dirty Al

Okay. Enough Spring Training.

Ready for the season! Let’s do it.

wkatzen

Wrong Brandon is guaranteed the starting job. And I hate that they are telling him to be “more aggressive”

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

wka,

he’s been late to the ball for a year, now he’s on it. He was going to be agressive no matter what anyone told him, it’s see ball hit ball for that Brandon. He’s done thinking, and that’s probably good. He needs to go to the plate with ‘blood in his eyes’ at every AB. Blow a snot rocket or two, and forget the damn giraffe. Deep inside, he’s not a nice guy. Now take it out on that SOB with the ball on the mound. Read Ted William’s book.

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

Night boys, kick ass and take names.

MichaelMD

I disagree wkatzen. Belt had a great eye at the plate, but he was way too passive at the plate. I don’t want to see a potential power hitter striking out looking on 3-2 counts. I’m not saying they need to encourage him to take Pablo’s approach at the plate, but there is definitely a happy medium in there.

I-Five G-Fan

I like your comment #2, haha even though its only the first spring training. I honestly feel, even though Brandon is doing great, that Burris should be in the Major league level too. He’ll boost the speed of the team and defense, and who knows, maybe his hitting can improve along the way. It seems that everyone is looking over him, even though he can play nearly every position is probably the fastest on the team

Lefty

They made a great observation on the radio today about how Belt shot up through the minors in one year by being a patient hitter, but in the bigs, the pitchers have better command and will have you 0-2 before you know what happened. He’s a bright and talented young man, and it sounds like he’s figuring it out. And maybe Bochy wasn’t just being a jerk last year telling reporters that Belt was too passive. Maybe he was right.

(I still don’t think you throw a 23-year-old rookie under the bus with reporters…But maybe Bochy was done with being criticized for not playing Belt more.)

Jonathan

WKA, you hate he’s being told to be more aggressive? Did you watch him play last year? I can tell you with 100% certainty that if he would have been more aggressive last year he would have hit better than .225 by quite a bit. Unfortunately he’s gonna have to hit like he did today all spring for Boch to consider starting him at first. If he wouldn’t bench a slumping, out-of-shape Huff last year, what’s going to make him bench a slimmed down, motivated Huff this year?

MLBFAN36

It is always a good quality to have a very good eye and sometimes that leads to being less aggressive. I like that Belt only swings when he feels he needs to but last season Belt was not aggressive enough. There is a fine line at being aggressive but swinging in the strike zone and being not aggressive and getting behind in the count always. Hard to hit with 2 strikes in the big leagues so it’s just a small adjustment that it looks like Belt is making.

mitchvman

Before the beginning of last season I felt it was imperative to see if Belt was for real and let him play the whole year. If he was for real, great! If he wasn’t then the Giants had multiple free agent options. Pujols, Fielder and at the time A. Gonzales. Which I thought was the best fit for the G-men. Played for Bochy. West Coast guy. Good clubhouse guy, etc. I was really disappointed that he decided to sign a long term deal with Boston in the Spring after the trade. Today I think he probably wishes he would have waited too.

Regardless, the Giants made an “error” by Yo-yoing Belt. Even though they did not go after Fielder or Pujols, we still don’t know if Belt is the real deal. Defensively he already is a gold glove caliber at first base. I like his approach and swing at the plate but felt he was too tentative last year. He has the potential though!

This year the Giants need to play him all year long at first (even if he falters at times) to see if he is the next “thing”! Let Huff play the OF with an occasional start at first. Otherwise another year wasted not really knowing and another potential free agent signing or trade thwarted by the indecision!

Lefty

I-Five: The Giants may not be overlooking Burriss. He had a good game today, and I know they love his speed and ability to play many different positions. I like him and hope he does well!

Nostocksjustbonds

Belt needs to be the starter, either in LF (Melky to RF and Nate to the bench) or 1b (Huff to the bench). Given the same opportunity, Belt will be a more productive hitter than either one of those two. He has more upside and needs to face MLB pitching all season long. Stick with him and he’ll become a stud. Stick with the vet love/mismanagement and the Giants will miss a golden opportunity to produce another star.

Oil Can Boyd

start belt everyday at first and trade huff for a journeyman right handed power hitting outfielder. They would need to pay most of Huff’s salary, (like Rowand’s) It would be the right move- The giants are too lefthanded and are without OF backup.

walt kovacs

being a host family is a very special thing….you get to be a part of a players development….

if you can….go for it

sentabo

Unless Belt hits .400 this spring to Huff’s .150 the vet will start at first base opening day. Like it or not, that’s just how it is in Bochyland.

Paul Heally

Maybe the Giants should be more aggressive in playing Brandon Belt EVERYday and see what results they get. Like many, I am dreadfully concerned Belt will get into the mental clutches of a botch or a bam bam and be told to be more aggressive and see both his walk totals and pitch counts drop. Folk are making judgements on Belt based on a season where he was given very inconsistent play, a senseless demotion–where he learned to trot to firstbase very well– and sustained a fractured wrist. Either the Giants trust him to develop into a steady offensive performer with .850-.900+ OPS potential or they don’t. To jerk him around does nothing for either the team or the player. At this point all that can be done is sit back and see what the skipper does–or worse doesn’t do! Just great to have the game back and even better On The Radio!

kris

It’s like 2011 never ended.

http://tinyurl.com/SFG-Live-121411 JD4SF

A different persective on the Belt – Huff issue that some folks may not have considered who are calling for #FreeBelt …

Huff is on the last year of his contract. If Belt appears ready to replace Huff, I suspect Huff will *still* see a fair amount of playing time earlier in the season.

Why? Because further into the season Huff may well be a trading chip. The better he looks as a 2012 player, the more likely the Giants will get higher value in a trade. Especially after Huff’s 2011 season, he needs playing time to demonstrate he is still a valuable contributor to garner any interest from other teams for a possible acquisition or trade.

So yes, the Giants may well be playing more of Huff than the “Free Belt” folks want, but in the right circumstances this builds Huff’s trading value … which is better for the TEAM while also giving Belt a bit more time to settle in.

If the Giants are considering Huff as a possible mid-season trade/sale asset, I’d expect them to play him more, and perhaps in different roles, to demonstrate his value and versatility.

Huff doing some platooning is also good, because part of the sales pitch then includes that he is fresher physically to continue into the rest of the season.

My fallible crystal ball suggests we see a few months of Huff followed by full time Belt … *provided* all the ducks fall into line, such as Belt demonstrating he is indeed ready – unlike last year – to successfully take on MLB level pitching and increased pressure.

So I’m rooting for Huff and Belt to both do very well in 2012, which would have positive results for the TEAM. And I won’t perceive more Huff playing time as “Bochy prefers the veterans” but instead as a logical business decision if Huff is being showcased for possible sale/trade.

http://tinyurl.com/SFG-Live-121411 JD4SF

Bochy announced he will continue with Angel and Melky as 1 and 2 in the line-up until Freddy is back. Stop and think that with Pablo batting #3 that initially gives us 3 switch hitters in a row to start every game against the various pichers.

Luke mcwarmsky

belt needs to do as big head says and be more aggressive, then quietly go back to being the patient hitter he is when idiot isn’t looking.

http://www.gravatar.com mccoveycovedave

Good for Brandon Belt to have a fast start. You will remember he hit a HR into McCovey Cove on the next to last game of the 2011 season (splash #60). I would love to see him beat off Huff for the 1st base job. Huff has a really bad fan attitude and I have experienced his sour personality as many other fans have. On TV, he is the fun Mr. thong, but on one to one situations with fans, he he a pompous overpaid snob! I pray Belt has a super Spring training and he is our 1st baseman. He has is young and has a lot of power. I could see a lot of splash hits from him. Go Giants!!!

Everything will be known game 1 of the season. Well know how serious the players really are to the goal of a championship…

Mavo

Good for Belt on his hot start today! This kid has all the signs of an impact player for years to come. But I must really protest again when people think he should have played in the ML all last season! On a contending team … like the Giants were for most of last season … players have to PRODUCE when their in there! Developing young players by letting them make their mistakes in the ML is a luxury only non-contending teams can afford.

And the injury to Runzler is exactly why I do not believe in long-term contracts for any pitcher. I’d grit my teeth and go 5 years for Cain … but not a second longer! And Lincecum would not get a 5 years contract from me … until I saw his K/9 and BB/9 improving … unlike his last two seasons when they were worse. Yes he had a dynamite postseason in 2010 and was one of the big reasons we won a title… but Renteria and Ross had good postseasons also. Giving long term deals to pitchers is a Fool’s Errand IMO!!

Lefty

JD @12:32 a.m.,

Hmmm, an interesting analysis but not entirely convinced.

Is it realistic to think that Huff, in the last year of an expensive contract and 35 years old, will be so valuable as trade bait that what we get in return outweighs playing Belt? (As you said, if the “ducks are in a row” and Belt has proven to be ready.)

If Huff is playing really well, they won’t trade him at all. If he’s decent but not amazing, maybe someone who wants a veteran bat and plays in a hitter-friendly park might take him IF the Giants eat most of his salary, but what would they give for him?

To me, if the Giants are paying Huff anyway, why not keep him as insurance and a veteran left-handed bat off the bench? As we sadly learned last season, even young guys can get hurt.

Long Ball

doesnt matter what the score is between belt, huff or pill bochy loves his vets huff can hit 1.10 this spring and he will be the starting first baseman

http://giantspipeline.com Dinero

I still feel the 1B job is Huff’s, and Belt has to earn it. I won’t cast my vote until much later in the spring. Super excited for Belt though, that he got off to such a hot start.

If Huff does manage to hang on to the job though, I agree with JD’s take. Trading Huff now would be the definition of selling low. Letting him play a month or two can only be beneficial to the team, Huff’s value has nowhere to go but up. We won’t be out of it by June 1, even if they put Murph at 1B.

I also think there’s no way a month or two in Fresno hinders or hurts Belt’s development in any way.

So, in other words, I see Belt as the 1B by June 1 at the latest, one way or another.

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

When one critisizes Bochy about playing vets, one should really get beyond parrotting the cliches of some goofy beat writter who’s POV is more devoted to a narrative to weave a story around than baseball, or what’s actually happening on the field.

http://www.csnbayarea.com/baggarly_blog ClutchUp

Dinero says:March 4th, 2012 at 8:36 am

I agree with Dinero’s comments PLUS it is called Spring Training for a reason. The don’t call it Spring Games. There are guys playing that Kuiper and co. do not have on their scorecard.

ST gives the team some synergy and harmony, works out the kinks and allows timing for hitters and muscle tuning for pitchers.

Randy Elliot anyone? He was a phenom in Feb-March.

Baltar

Good reminder, ClutchUp. Spring Training results do not predict how well a player will do in the following season–zero, zilch, not at all.
However, if Belt has a great spring and Bochy gives him the starting 1b job becaue of it, I’m for it. Whatever it takes to get Huff out and Belt in is good–astrology, voodoo, pigeon entrails.

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

Belt hit ~.280-290 coming out of ST last year, and hit less than .200 through April and May. Before someone wants Huff run over by a car or something, let’s see if Belt can sustain his performance.

And Baltar, as to voodoo and the like, I wouldn’t go to deeply into Jobu’s world. He’s a nasty SOB.

Jstreet

If predicting the future was as simple, easy and smug as some of you commenters make it, there would be no reason for Las Vegas. Repetitive comments are boring. They lend no insight to the discussion. Maybe it makes you feel good to stick your chest out and pontificate, but to this seasoned observer, it just makes you appear lazy. Think, contribute. And don’t make me repeat myself. Again.

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

Jstreet,

new thread about Wilson’s first session against hitters. But ditto.

http://www.gravatar.com mccoveycovedave

I’m with Mavo. Stay away from LT contracts as they are recipes for disaster on average! We are paying Zito and Rowand like $20 million this year and it is wasted money! A LT contract can work as it did with Barry Bonds, but I would be willing to bet if you looked at all 5-10 year baseball contracts, you would see players were over paid in general as injuries and age where not fully favored in. Would I go five years for Cain. Yes, I do believe he is less injury prone. But Timmy, I don’t want any part of 5 years as smaller guys wear our quicker on average. GO Giants

ClutchUp

Long Ball says: March 4th, 2012 at 7:25 am 26..doesnt matter what the score is between belt, huff or pill bochy loves his vets huff can hit 1.10 this spring and he will be the starting first baseman.

LB: You may be correct that Huff starts opening day, but have you been keeping UP on the intra-workings of all the jibber-jabber here and in SF Chronicle.?

The SFG’s had THREE organizatioanal meetings where a dozen++ investors were allowed to speak. Bochy and STAFF put a Giants Offensive Way To Execute in a hard copy version along with Kindle et al.

Prior to that it was just ball club blather. Now everyone in and on the SF Giants Planet has been put on notice….

Stay Positive LB.

ClutchUp

A rather remarkable revelation by BB9 that I personally watched and viewed via the Eye Ball Test. This admission sums up the HUGE difference between hitting TRUE major league pitching – Opposing 1 through 4 starters (not so much the 5′s)

See Belt’s quote below: Belt, surprisingly, is not deathly opposed to starting 2012 in Triple-A, saying he would rather get consistent at-bats there than become the mayor of the bench in San Francisco.

He understands he is starting anew, trying to be more aggressive swinging at strikes early in the count, a change in approach he began to execute during winter ball in the Dominican Republic.

Belt also is intensifying his studies in the craft of hitting and said, “Even when I hit well in 2010 (in Fresno), I didn’t know what I was doing. Now I have a better idea. Even if I get into a funk, I know how to get out of it.”

Hey not to set off topic but can anyone give me a review of. Philadelphia Car Insurance Reform 1044 Market St. Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 618-2175 They can be down the block with me. I was wondering if they were a good insurance agency. I need to get coverage, it is the law you know, but I need to have a good price price plus I want friendly service.